1981–82 Major Indoor Soccer League season

Recap

It was a year of expansion, as the New Jersey Rockets were added and the schedule was lengthened by almost two months. The 44-game regular-season schedule was an increase of four games, and the playoff schedule was expanded to two best-of-three rounds and one best-of-five championship series. This was done to, as a league spokesman put it, force players to decide on either the indoor or outdoor game

With the Hartford Hellions moving to Memphis and the San Francisco Fog moving to Kansas City, the league went back to a two-division setup. The top four finishers in each division would advance to the MISL playoffs. The Pittsburgh Spirit returned, and had the second-best record in the league.

While the Arrows had the best record in the league and Steve Zungul won the scoring title again, New York was pushed hard in the playoffs. In their first round matchup with the Buffalo Stallions, the Stallions won the first game of the series in New York and held a 4-2 lead with 1:20 remaining in Game 2. Zungul and Omar Gomez scored 36 seconds apart to tie the match, and Dragan Simic scored in overtime to even the series. New York won Game 3 to advance.

New York and St. Louis would eventually meet in a five-game championship series that would see every game decided by two goals or less, including two in overtime.

After the season, the Philadelphia Fever would fold and the New Jersey Rockets and Denver Avalanche suspended operations.

Teams

Map of clubs

Regular season schedule

Main article: 1981–82 Major Indoor Soccer League regular season schedule

The 1981–82 regular season schedule ran from November 13, 1981, to April 25, 1982. The 44 games per team was an increase of four over the 1980–81 schedule of 40 games.

Final standings

Playoff teams in bold.

Playoffs

| RD1-seed1=E1 | RD1-team1=New York Arrows | RD1-score1=2 | RD1-seed2=E4 | RD1-team2=Buffalo Stallions | RD1-score2=1

| RD1-seed3=E2 | RD1-team3=Pittsburgh Spirit | RD1-score3=1 | RD1-seed4=E3 | RD1-team4=Baltimore Blast | RD1-score4=2

| RD1-seed5=W1 | RD1-team5=St. Louis Steamers | RD1-score5=2 | RD1-seed6=W4 | RD1-team6=Denver Avalanche | RD1-score6=0

| RD1-seed7=W2 | RD1-team7=Wichita Wings | RD1-score7=2 | RD1-seed8=W3 | RD1-team8=Memphis Americans | RD1-score8=1

| RD2-seed1=E1 | RD2-team1=New York Arrows | RD2-score1=2 | RD2-seed2=E3 | RD2-team2=Baltimore Blast | RD2-score2=1

| RD2-seed3=W1 | RD2-team3=St. Louis Steamers | RD2-score3=2 | RD2-seed4=W3 | RD2-team4=Wichita Wings | RD2-score4=1

| RD3-seed1=E1 | RD3-team1=New York Arrows | RD3-score1=3 | RD3-seed2=W1 | RD3-team2=St. Louis Steamers | RD3-score2=2

Quarterfinals

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Semifinals

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Championship Series

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Regular season player statistics

Scoring leaders

GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points

Leading goalkeepers

Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses

Playoff player statistics

Scoring leaders

GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points

Leading goalkeepers

Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses

All-MISL teams

League awards

• Most Valuable Player: Steve Zungul, New York/Stan Terlecki, Pittsburgh
• Scoring Champion: Steve Zungul, New York
• Pass Master: Steve Zungul, New York
• Rookie of the Year: Germain Iglesias, Buffalo
• Defender of the Year: Val Tuksa, New York
• Goalkeeper of the Year: Slobo Ilijevski, St. Louis
• Coach of the Year: Dave Clements, Denver
• Championship Series Most Valuable Player: Steve Zungul, New York

References

References

1. (September 15, 1981). "Jersey Team Joins M.I.S.L.". [[The New York Times]].
2. (November 13, 1981). "Tilts Tonight Open MISL Season". [[Youngstown Vindicator]].
3. (June 9, 1981). "MISL directors extend league season". [[St. Petersburg Times]].
4. (May 28, 1981). "Hellions move now more likely". [[Record-Journal]].
5. (April 3, 1981). "Kansas City may soon be getting a pro soccer team". [[Milwaukee Sentinel]].
6. (1981). "1981-82 MISL Media Guide".
7. Tuscano, Joe. (June 19, 1981). "Spirit Bounces Back To MISL". [[Observer-Reporter]].
8. "1981–82 MISL season Summary". Our Sports Central.
9. (May 3, 1982). "Late Rally Saves Day For Arrows". [[Pittsburgh Press]].
10. (May 15, 1982). "Arrows Lose Opener". The New York Times.
11. (May 17, 1982). "Arrows Tie Series With Steamers". The New York Times.
12. (May 22, 1982). "Arrows Take 2-1 Lead". The New York Times.
13. (May 27, 1982). "Arrows Still Champions". The New York Times.
14. (May 27, 1982). "Arrows Cop 4th Crown". [[The Hour (newspaper).
15. Kaine, Mike. (August 11, 1982). "FEVER HALTS OPERATION FOR 1 YEAR". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
16. (April 9, 1982). "MISL Team In Trouble". [[Observer-Reporter]].
17. (November 5, 1982). "MISL season opens tonight". [[St. Joseph Gazette]].
18. (1981). "1981-82 MISL Media Guide".
19. (1987). "MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide".
20. (1987). "MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide".